DISTURBANCE

Amazing effort! Arne Schäfer voice reminds the most expressive Peter Hammill, and the music is beautiful since the first minute to the last. Absolutely not a clone, but the feeling of VDGG is present at this great album. Just three long tracks, but -curiously- it seems too short and never boring. First cut, "Curtain Call", is a real winner and my favorite, based on a grand piano rythm, and the other tracks are at the same level. VERSUS X is, today, one of the better bands I heard. Extremely recommended.

As newer bands come into our musial sphere of interest, some lack originality or plain inventiveness. As it is the case here, this is not to say that it is not worthy , far from it, but there is a lack of purpose. I saw the Band live in Verviers and was probably in the small minority that got bored halfway into the concert. This is definitely because every number sounds like the prevous and the following ones. The vocals are not really fascinating - I might even say just adequate . Also in the keyboard dept. the piano is present and dominant on every number and this is valid for the Zone album. But all is not dark as I give 3 stars and this is supposed to mean good.

This is possibly the most cheerfully inept album in prog-rock. And despite my one-star rating, I very much encourage my colleagues to check this one out. If it wasn't so amusing, it would almost be painful to listen to. And I'm not being facetious: this really is one of the most amusing albums I've ever heard. In fact, there is something I have always wanted to say about an album, but never found one to say it about, until now: hey, guys - the emperor has no clothes!! I can't believe that anyone could be bamboozled by this. Throughout most of the three overly (!!) extended "compositions" (a term to be used loosely here...), it sounds very much like they are making it up as they go along. The lyrics are among the silliest I've ever heard, and the vocals - sung with SO much sincerity - are so bad they're laughable. In addition, there are places where the production makes the band sound like a prog garage band making a demo. Despite a few (too few) listenable sections, this is an object lesson in how NOT to make a prog-rock album. (As an aside, the description of Versus X comparing them to Crimson, ELP and VDGG is a serious insult to those bands...)

I regard Versus X as one of the most interesting new symphonic bands nowadays, and perhaps I feel this way because I really love the refurbishment of the typical vintage symphonic prog with a hard rocking twist (which is the same reason why I enjoy Cliffhanger, Discipline, A Piedi Nudi and Daghmar so much). Yet, this band keeps itself well apart from the realms of prog metal: the guitar riffs and solos do not take center stage too often, nor do they state the main basis for the tracks - the latter is a responsibility left to the keyboardist's control (mostly on his piano chord progressions), and the former is no man's land, since Versus X seems to be primarily preoccupied with the subtle development of ambiences and textures than with the delivery of clear melodies and pompous orchestrations. "Disturbance" was my first versus X experience, and from the few posterior experiences I've had regarding their music, I can tell that this album is very typical of them. Of course, they are not alien to prog pomposity, as the length of all three tracks of the album does undoubtedly show - the musical ideas are expanded, augmented and articulated in an ambitious manner, but this band's ideology is more focused on basic harmonies than on epic melodies. Some may get disappointed at this, and therefore, suspect that these guys simply suffer from lack of writing skills; the way I see it, the band's talent for creating tension is a major asset, which is why I find "Disturbance" so enjoyable. The sound of versus X is basically a re- elaboration of vintage symph prog (Yes, Genesis) with a slightly increased accent on the rocky side of things and occasional hints to dissonance and tension (which relate them to VDGG on a superficial level): the guitar solos are mostly Hackett-inspired, while the keyboard parts are something like a down-to-earth Wakeman-meets-Orford. The opener, paradoxically titled 'Curtain Call', is an excellent showcase for well-articulated cohesion of diverse musical ideas: the sense of energy stays pretty even all throughout the varying moods and transitions between motifs. 'In Silent Age' goes to more somber places, adding more drama to the fold, although it fails to come up as cohesive as the preceding track. The third and final suite takes the best of both aforementioned tracks: the 22 ½ minute long 'The Mirror of Division' brings the best of Versus X in its most robust expression for this album. Excellent as it is, IMHO "Disturbance" deserves a 4- star rating.

Versus X is a German band mainly dominated by singer/guitarist Arne Schäfer and keyboarder Ekkehard Nahm that released three studio albums in the tradition of 70's classical Prog. In terms of style (not quite in terms of quality) comparisons could be drawn to Gabriel-era Genesis. A short look at the tracklist actually tells already everything what's to be expected from this record here "Disturbance", their second one. Only 3 tracks and the shortest with almost 17 min running time, thus genre-typical lengthy epic symphonic rock suites we're dealing here with. Well as mentioned already this work isn't quite on par with Genesis' best ones not to speak about comparisons to Crimson or VDGG which are drawn by some reviewers. Also I can't quite follow why Schäfer's vocals have been compared sometimes with Hammill's ones, I think this is way off. Nonetheless these three compositions presented here are anything than a complete failure or a boring affair, at least for lovers of long epic tracks. From the instrumental point, at least speaking about guitar and keyboard (plenty of acoustic piano sound) everything's fine here, only bass and drums pale a bit besides those and the vocals which are quite okay but really not spectacular might be something to get used to. The compositions are rather complex with many twists and turns but as well memorable after a couple of spins. Each track is telling some story, "Curtain Call" deals with the role of the artist within the society, "In Silent Age" is an apocalyptic vision from the viewpoint of an artist and "The Mirror of Division" is about the human imagination which seems insufficient to really understand the nature of things in cosmic and microscopic scales. For those interested in more details I'd recommend to visit the band's website, some mp3 samples can be found there as well. As far as I know Versus X has disbanded meanwhile and multi-instrumentalist / vocalist Arne Schäfer carried on as the one-man-band Apogee. I listened so far only to one album by that one which could not fascinate me as much as the ones of Versus X. I wouldn't consider neither of their releases essential but both this one and its follow-up are an enjoyable and interesting listen, at least if following the lyrics a bit closer. I think this band is worth to be checked out by any fan of epic symphonic Prog. ***1/2 really!!

This album took me by surprise i'll tell you that. VERSUS X are a German band who on this their second album have created three long tracks totalling 57 minutes.The music is mostly vocal and keyboard led with contrasts between the mellow and heavier sections throughout. It does keep the same kind of style and mood throughout. I did think of GENESIS but the overall feel reminded me of SINGULARITY's "Between Sunlight And Shadow". Both albums draw me to the lyrics more than I usually am, and for whatever reason I just enjoy the mood that is offered even though objectively i'm a little surprised i'm so into this.

"Curtain Call" kicks in with some heaviness before a minute. Organ plays over top then piano.It settles before 3 minutes with vocals and piano. Vocals stop and synths roll in at 5 minutes. Guitar before 6 minutes. Vocals are back before 8 minutes with piano. Heaviness starts to build before 10 minutes. Piano only as we get a calm a minute later. It picks up with different instruments taking the lead to the end.

"In Silent Age" opens with solo piano as reserved vocals join in. Drums and a fuller sound before 2 minutes. The tempo picks up 3 minutes in. Piano and synths only 5 minutes in. It picks up again with vocals before 7 1/2 minutes. Piano and synths as it settles back. Vocals after 10 minutes. It kicks back in after 14 minutes for a powerful conclusion. "The Mirror Of Division" builds as synths wash in. Guitar then takes the lead after a minute then organ. A calm 3 1/2 minutes in with organ then vocals. Piano too. It kicks back in at 5 1/2 minutes before settling a minute later. Vocals too. It's heavier before 8 minutes. It settles back with piano and synths 10 1/2 minutes in. Vocals are back too. The tempo picks up then the guitar leads. Synths and piano only after 16 minutes and vocals return as well. It kicks in before 19 minutes. Nice. Synths join in then vocals before 21 minutes for the emotional ending.

Sure the music here gets predictable fairly quickly but I don't care this album just draws me in for some reason.

Versus X from Germany is one of the most intresting bands I've heared lately. Conducted by excellent musician Arne Schäfer responsable for guitars and vocals here, he is also the main man on Apogee band. Second album released in 1996 named Disturbance issued at Musea records, to me is a total winner, to discribe it in one word - intresting. Only 3 pieces features here, but all lenghty, one of them clocking around 23 min and is a killer one in every aspect. Dark moody atmosphere grace this album with long instrumental passages , alternating from mellow to more uptempo in a good and very intresting manner. Quite complex eclatic prog , elaborated arrangements, piano , keyboards and guitar having an important role here, sometimes remind me a lot of Genesis - Selling England by the pound era, specially on piano parts. very good are the guitar lines, dark , very spacey with a clear tone and very inventive partrs. Is a realy nice surprise this album for me, even I have it for some years only now I have the time to re listen carafuly. This is the kind of prog that I like, complex, elaborated with plenty of great instrumental parts, Forte piece I think the last one The Mirror of Division , is absolutly a killer one, Curtain fall comes second. I don't realy know why is so low rated this album, aswell as the next one, to me Disturbance is a damn fine release that needs a far more exposure. Maybe the vocals are not among the best I've heared but fits perfect in the atmosphere of the album. 4 stars easy, among my fav albums ever.

VERSUS X is a symphonic prog band hailing from Frankfurt am Main, Germany and formed in 1991 and has released quite a few albums to date. DISTURBANCE is the second release and my first encounter but one that is pleasing and begs me to explore the band's output. The band plays a complex blend of classically oriented heavy rock with elements of jazz. With three sprawling tracks clocking in at just a few minutes short of an hour, you can tell you're getting a progressive music marathon with this one. This is yet another prog band to grace the Musea label.

What you can expect is some symphonic Genesis inspired types of melodies that tend to repeat and intertwine with other melodies and incorporating lots of dynamic passages and trade-offs with plenty of varied time signatures. The three tracks are quite complex stirring all kinds of classical piano runs, rock guitar parts and multi-hued atmospheres into the cauldron. The musicians are all top notch and the only aspect of this music that turns me off are the mediocre vocals of Arne Schäfer however the lyrics are intelligible and interesting.

This is truly an escapist's prog experience here. There is a very abstract feel to the whole thing as it can meander in different directions with the instrumental parts being the strongest feature here. There are long sprawling organ and piano runs, guitar eruptions and plenty of pastoral lulling segments. With the shortest of the three tracks being 16:47 and the longest being 22:30 this is truly an album for active listeners only that can patiently travel the snail's pace developments of the compositions. This album has very good compositional structure and i would love to like it more but the vocals are just too weak for my tastes. I am sold on checking out future releases though because this is another band filled with potential that displays itself on this release albeit unevenly. 3.5 rounded down